Jen’s Dysphagia Blog

The more I use myofascial release and manual therapy (MFR) at my clinic, the more I am convinced that it may be the “secret sauce” that helps my patients who have dysphagia after head and neck (H&N) cancer get better. You can check out my previous blog about myofascial release for a little more information […]

One of most common questions I am asked when I teach the VitalStim Therapy course is about how to do swallowing therapy with patients who have dementia or cognitive impairments. I think the answer is not what most people expect. But first a little background about the dilemma of swallowing therapy with patients who have […]

Exciting news as we have moved the Carter Swallowing Center to a new location beginning March 1, 2014. We are only a very short distance from our old location! Our new address is now: 3470 S. Sherman St. Suite 2 Englewood, CO 80113 You can find directions on our Contact page. Our phone number is […]

One of the Carter Swallowing Center patients’ success story was featured on CBS Channel 4 News at Noon on Monday. Joanna started at the Carter Swallowing Center being unable to swallow any foods or liquids, including her much needed medication which she could not crush and put in her feeding tube. Her not being able […]

Think puree consistency foods are terrible? Well, I have to admit that most are. However, I am currently working with a woman with dysphagia that happens to be a gourmet chef, and she has completely made me re-think puree consistency food. During each therapy session she would bring in another one of her […]

One of the most serious health risks to patients who have difficulty swallowing is that of developing aspiration pneumonia. “Aspiration” is the medical term for when food or liquids go into the wind pipe (trachea) and then into the lungs when swallowing. Repeated aspiration can eventually lead to pneumonia. Of course the best way to […]

Many patients with Parkinson’s disease have difficulty not only with swallowing but with communicating as well. One of the most researched treatments for patients with Parkinson’s is the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) program, which is available at the Carter Swallowing Center. What is LSVT? The program is based on some key principles of why specifically […]

Happy New Year! I am eager to start the new year and launch all my new plans for the Carter Swallowing Center. For me 2012 will be all about Reaching Dysphagia Patients and Teaching Dysphagia Clinicians… Reaching dysphagia patients: Anyone who has ever heard me talk about my swallowing center for more than 5 minutes […]

Speech pathologists from all over the world meet at the Dysphagia Research Society conference every year to present and discuss the latest and greatest in swallowing research. Many of these studies eventually go on to be published in peer-reviewed journals, but since publication can be a time-consuming process, the DRS presentations allow a sneak peek […]

The first time I saw Swallow: A Documentary, it brought tears to my eyes (hokey, but true). Not tears because of how tragic dysphagia is for the 2 adults and 1 child in the movie, but tears of joy because of the HOPE that these patients have for getting better. Part of my dream in starting a […]